I finally got around to visiting Osprey House (after hearing about it from Clif2 ) on my way to Brisbane the other week. what a delightful and surprising little spot..... right on the edge of the Pine River and surrounded by farmlands and Saltmarsh, yet only a few short KMS way from the onslaught of progress at Murrumba Downs. I sincerely hope that the dedicated caretakers and volunteers associated with it continue to protect the precious mangroves and their inhabitants.
Just a few shots that I managed there...not all birds but lovely anyway.
Karen you will notice a tower purpose built for Osprey after the original nest was blown away in a storm. This is not the original pair I am told, but a younger pair who chased away the previous inhabitants . As yet they have not produced any offspring from hatchings that they have made and it is thought by the experts that maybe they were too young when they set up nest after taking it over. They have been there a couple of seasons now and the day I was there were observed mating at least 3 times ....of course I missed it all each time !! They have a webcam intio the nest so hopefully this season will be more exciting and productive
Flying back into the nest after a fishing expedition together
What are you looking at ? Havent you seen a bird prepare dinner before?
What am I doing awake??? go away and take your flash with you please
Are you looking at us???? ... a Koala and baby hanging out in a tree by the side of the road
Hello .... I am giving you my best side now let me eat in peace
I found all the wildlife within a stones throw of the Osprey nest...... quite perfectly Australian !
They were not caged FYI
Hope you enjoy these shots and get to go there if you are local, They have a very informative education centre there aswell
Cheers
Adrienne
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Adrienne, are you sure that isn't one of your shots in the poster! :-) The second one of the Osprey is a cracker. Cheers, Richard
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
Thanks Richard...... no the flight shots I got were a bit pathetic actually. I have done much better elsewhere before. But I was so excited at watching them anyway. I find that when you are near trees and looking out for BOP , doesn't matter where it is , they are in th ehabit of suddenly looming out of the trees and hovering above the canopy making you run like hell to get out and see where they are and where they are heading. I had run after them several times earlier only to have them disappear on me. They were fishing in the big river but also in a tidal creek running through the farmland opposite the centre. I was only going to call in for half an hour and ended up spending 4 hours there, just wandering by myself and talking to the volunteers to learn the history of the nest etc.
The funniest thing was I was starving and there were no facilities nearby , then I saw a couple with cappuccinos! They told me that Gloria jeans was "just down the road" LOL I had come in from a different approach and only seen the rural area so I followed their directions and sure enough, after 5-6 mins drive ...I was in suburbia...found a beautiful bakery and got a coffee .....what more could you ask for than a pie , a donut and a cappuccino while sitting among a that beautiful wildlife lol
Sunshine Coast Queensland
That confirms it Adrienne. If I ever get anywhere near the Sunshine Coast we're going birding together, just somewhere near a coffee shop! :-) And yes, you have taken lovely shots I recall of BoP in the past. I laughed at your reply. Cheers, Richard
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
You're on Richard, and if i ever get to the centre the reverse will apply!!!
I'll add some links in here to that place. We have numerous pairs on the coast that are settled in their relocated towers , Telstra seems to be the favourite abode of choice LOL They are very tolerant with them and do take care of them which is gratifying. There is another purpose built tower down in Burtinya , where the canals and lake development spread into a piece of forest where a pair of Osprey had a home at the top of a huge dead tree. The developers or someone, chopped off the top of the tree and moved it further down to nearby patch where they attached it to the top of a huge pole and relocated the nest.
I'll find a shot of it for you. I know of 4 Osprey nests on the coast and 1 Brahminy Kite to date .
Sunshine Coast Queensland
http://www.ospreyhouse.asn.au/
Here is the link Richard to this place. GThere is a live webcam in the nest but it can only be used with Internet Explorer and it is limited to under 10 viewers at a time so I havent been able to access it yet. There are some past videos there though and it is an interesting website
Cheers
Adrienne
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Adrienne, I was able to view the video, and it was magic! Thank you for the link. The pics above are wonderful. Must try to go pay there a visit soon.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
What great stories Adrienne and Richard, I want to go bierding with both of you. You never know........??
M-L
I look forward to 'bierding' with you too. :p This place looks great, might have to get my girlfriend and our kids all together there one day.
Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Iit is a great place to go . But please if you go there with lots of kids, teach them to respect the environment and other people who may be wanting to enjoy it. There was a family there that just let their kids run wild all over the show, tearing the leaves of bushes and generally disturbing me trying to sneak up on birds and bats etc. The two mothers just sat and drank their coffees completely oblivious to it all. One of the volunteers had to go and ask them to rein their kids in and it was just like water off a ducks back. I reckon take them to a park if they want excitement etc. Don't get me wrong I love to see kids enjoying nature and stuff and it is a very educational place.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I like this area for birding, not only around Osprey House but also further down Dohles Rocks Road (pronounced Dollies) - on the opposite side there is a small lake and then along the Pine River.
Peter
I'll have to look into that Peter, it certainly looked interesting and I wold love to go there when the waders are in full swing too. Do you happen to know when that is? e.g. Godwits
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I would expect over the summer months when I look in my pics database
you should however not forget the Redcliffe Peninsula for Bar-tailed Godwit, the following 2 pics were taken Sunday, 15/7/12 on the Deception Bay side of the Peninsula from about 6.30am (daybreak)
the 2nd is included for the Black-winged Stilts (that I really like)
the Whimbrel pic was taken in 3/11
Peter
Oh wonderful Peter thanks for that. I will have to look at the map a I got a bit confused when I looked out across the river and saw a big bridge or causeway going somewhere...... ( I don't know the brisbane area very well as we mainly keep to the coast.
When I lived In NZ sonem years ago, we lived on tidal flats and the Godwits were every year . We could follow the progress on a website for tagged Godwits as they travelled to Siberia or wherever . Quite amazing!
Sunshine Coast Queensland